Author's Notes: This is the first of my new fics. This has been in the works for quite a while and I kindof know where it's going so that's all good. It's based in Season 1, so think of it as Lucas had a choice between Brooke and Peyton, but chose Peyton. Brooke happily backed off and let them be together - because she's a good friend. Thanks to my meta Cari for looking over this for me. She is mah gawd! bows down
Chapter One: Orange Crush.
There used to be a time when Lucas Scott would find himself looking for excuses to be near Peyton Sawyer. Whether it would be to ask to borrow a CD he wanted, or to talk to her about their homework.
He just needed to be with her.
He clearly remembered the way he would almost freeze every time her hand brushed against his. Her touches sent electricity throughout his body and he relished the slight shudder that followed.
Or at least they used to.
Now whenever his girlfriend touched him, there was no such feeling.
He missed looking at Peyton and feeling his heart race. Or hearing the laughs that made him break out into a grin, or staring at her for no particular reason other than to wonder how he'd ended up with such an amazing person.
Yet, more recently he had found that his eyes would aimlessly wonder to other people whenever he was with her. It wasn't like he was looking to be with anyone else, it just happened out of boredom.
He sat in his usual place next to Peyton at the lunch table. They used to hold hands, he noted, but now their hands were either on their lunch trays or kept to themselves. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Peyton talking animatedly to Nathan and Haley. Lucas knew he should probably try to pay attention, but for some reason whatever they were talking about wasn't registering in his head.
As he looked around the school grounds, his breath caught in his throat as he laid eyes on the only other entity that could make him flustered just by being in her presence.
Brooke Davis.
In the last few weeks, Lucas had noticed that it was now only Brooke who seemed to spark off the chain reaction he'd felt when he was first with Peyton. He had always liked Brooke, but he'd been so into Peyton, he'd kind of pushed aside any burgeoning feelings.
And because he was with Peyton, he'd still have to do the same. Although he couldn't stop his attraction to her from growing as the time wore on.
As she edged nearer and nearer to the group, she flashed the famous Davis smile that never failed to make Lucas think it was just for him.
"Hey friends," she greeted brightly, seeing only one available space between Lucas and Nathan. She placed her tray down and nudged Lucas to scoot over. He did, and she grabbed hold of his shoulder for support as she climbed over in her heels and sat down.
It sent a feeling long lost through his body.
Electricity.
He almost shuddered with the unexpected chills that followed.
"Are you okay?" Brooke asked as she saw the look on his face. Lucas opened his mouth to form an excuse but she gasped and let go of his shoulder; the electricity lingered for a few teasing moments. "Oh my gosh! I totally forgot that was your injured shoulder!" A hand flew to her mouth. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" she questioned.
"No, it's fine," Lucas reassured her.
"Phew," Brooke's hand moved from her mouth to her chest. "We need you to score us a lot of points in tonight's game," she said with a wink. "I'll be there cheering you all on." Lucas couldn't help but smile at her comment and the thought of Brooke in her uniform.
"Speaking of, are you of you going to the after party?" Nathan asked. Lucas tuned out of the conversation as he tried to keep his attention off Brooke and focus on Peyton. But more often than not, he'd notice the way Brooke's eyes darted back and forth between whoever was speaking, and how she'd run a hand absent-mindedly through her hair as she tried to think of something Bevin had told her earlier.
In fact it was Brooke who brought Lucas back to earth as she caught him staring and laughed.
"What?" he asked, suddenly aware everyone was looking at him.
"We asked you a question, man," Nathan said to his half-brother. Their friendship was still very new but both were making a conscious effort to get along for the sake of Haley.
"Sorry," Lucas apologized.
"We asked if you had finished Mr. Howard's assignment," Haley told him.
"Oh, not yet. It's not due in until next week so I'll do it the night before," Lucas shrugged.
"I love your philosophy," Brooke said, "I think I might just adopt that."
"As opposed to your current philosophy of doing it a week after it's due?" Peyton raised an eyebrow and Brooke just grinned.
"At least it's done, right?" she asked. "Anyway, I'd better go," she said finishing the last of her orange juice.
"Already? You just got here?" Lucas blurted without thinking.
"Places to see, people to do!" Brooke chimed.
"I see. We're not good enough for you anymore?" Peyton teased.
"Don't be silly," Brooke flicked her wrist, "You never were!" Brooke replied back sticking her tongue out at her best friend before leaving the group.
Lucas' eyes trailed after her as he watched her dispose of her tray and stop to talk to someone he barely recognized from the cheer squad. He could still hear fragments of her voice as she spoke and for some reason unknown to him, it made him feel slightly happier knowing she was in his life.
"Do you think old adages are true?" Peyton asked midway through looking through her CD collection. Brooke barely glanced up from the magazine she was reading.
"Depends," she said. "What's an adage?" Both girls laughed before Peyton continued seriously.
"Old sayings. Like 'opposites attract' and stuff," Peyton glanced at Brooke who shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe. Why?" Brooke turned her attention back to her magazine.
"Never mind. I was just wondering, sometimes it feels like the truth," Peyton forced a smile as Brooke looked up again.
"What's going on, Peyton?" she asked as she pushed away the magazine. Peyton shrugged.
"It's just sometimes I feel as if Lucas and I are too alike for our own good. I mean there's hardly any conflict between us. Sometimes we argue over bands and their best song but that's it."
Brooke frowned. "Wait, so you're worried that you and Broody-boy aren't fighting? You and I have very different opinions on what makes a relationship work!"
"I know it sounds weird, but I miss that kind of playful banter. Take you and me for example, we're completely different but we're best friends because we don't agree on anything. Lucas likes almost everything I like."
"I warned you, P. Sawyer, you both are too blonde to make it work," Brooke tutted loudly, earning a pillow being thrown at her head.
"But you get what I mean, right?" Peyton asked.
Brooke nodded. "Yeah, you're both blonde, broody and like exactly the same things. Geez, half the time I think you're related!"
Peyton stuck her tongue out at Brooke as her friend continued, "But some people would say it was a match made in heaven," Brooke added.
"That's true," Peyton said though she wasn't entirely convinced of it. "Nathan and I were completely different and that never worked out. But when I see him with Haley, they just seem to fit, even though no-one would have believed it would work."
"I guess it just comes down to chemistry, Peyton. Or just plain luck," Brooke said. "That is why just hooking up with guys is so much simpler. I don't care what music he's into or what his favorite color is. Just the basics: lights on or off."
"Gross," Peyton said rolling her eyes.
"Hey," Brooke said a little more seriously, "Do you want me to talk to him for you?"
"No, it's okay." The blonde shook her head.
"I could threaten him if you want."
"No…"
"Maybe torture him a little. Some handcuffs, a whip…" Brooke's eyes twinkled playfully.
"Hey! Hands off my boyfriend," Peyton said.
"Duh!" Brooke said, "Hoes over bros, remember?" she stuck her fist out and Peyton hit it with her own.
"Hoes over bros," she repeated.
"Hey," Brooke said just before she went back to her magazine, "Maybe you guys were separated at birth!"
"Oh my god, would you stop?" Peyton asked throwing another pillow at Brooke to silence her friend.
Thankfully, Brooke went back to her magazine, quoting bits of a Britney article to a disinterested Peyton, who was busy wondering if it would work out between her and Lucas.
"Broody!" Brooke called across the school grounds as she bounded towards him, "Wait up."
"I have to ask you something. When did I get the nickname 'Broody'?" he questioned.
"Since you did that broody thing over Peyton," Brooke replied before dismissing it as quickly as she'd appeared, "Speaking of, are you treating my girl right?"
"Uh … why has she said something?" Lucas asked, suddenly very nervous.
"That's between us. Look, I know you're supposed to be all broody all the time and Peyton has that whole tortured-artist thing working for her, but you can be slightly happy together, you know. Smiling won't be the end of your relationship, but what will be is you guys not fighting."
"What?" Lucas asked, "You want us to fight?"
"Well, not seriously. Just fight over what you want on your hot dogs or what movie you're going to see. Or tell her you like the new Backstreet Boys song or something to bring a … spark back into your relationship." Brooke told him.
"So she has been talking to you," Lucas surmised, "Brooke, I'm sorry but I think that Peyton should be the one talking to me about this – not you," he told her.
Brooke frowned. "Why are you not more bothered about this?" she asked. "A few months ago, you were hanging onto her like a leech and now it's like you're not even halfway interested."
Despite the fact Brooke wasn't very involved when it came to their newly formed group; she was highly observant and took a special interest in everything that revolved around her best friend.
Lucas sighed. "Okay, Brooke. I'll try and put a bit more effort in," he agreed.
Brooke seemed convinced and nodded. "Thanks, Lucas. And if I hear otherwise, we'll be having another talk very soon," she warned.
"Got it," Lucas said.
"Oh," Brooke leant in close and whispered in his ear, her hand resting on his shoulder and she made him bend down slightly so that he was at her level, "And this conversation never happened," she added.
She briefly caught his eye as they parted and gave him a small grin before walking off.
Lucas stood there for a moment, contemplating what Brooke had said and trying to shake off the feeling she gave him when she touched his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
Her words resounded in his head and it took him a while to realize that the school bell had rung and he was standing alone in the playground.
Sighing deeply, he nervously scratched his head and walked into the school building.
Brooke was right. He had spent months pursuing Peyton and he couldn't give it up now. Maybe he'd have to put in more effort with the blonde and forget about her best friend.
To Be Continued…
